Floor mop



A ril 16, 1929. A WATER 1,709,331

FLOOR MOP Filed Aug. 11, 1925 gnue'nfoz QwMKMQ 90m Patented A... 16,1929.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE".

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This invention relates to a mop which finds particular applicability industing and polishing floors and the like.

An object of the invention 1s to provide a mop of this kind whereinthe-dustlng or polishing fabric or element may be very readily attachedto, and detached from, the head of the mop, and wherein the dusting orpolishing cloth protects the surface to be dusted or polished and thearticles stand ng on the surface. In the present illu'stratwedisclosure, the polishing cloth, which, preferably, is formed of lambswool, is adapted to overlap the edges of the head of the mop,

and the lambs wool is clamped in place on the head by means locatedwithin the compass of the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mop which ischaracterized by its extreme simplicity in construction, its economy inmanufacture, and its durability in i use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe apphcation of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated one of the manyembodiments which the present invention may take;

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the mop; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional new therethrough, the dusting cloth or lambs wool beingomitted; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 83 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the'drawings in detail, the

numeral 10 designates a holder or head, preferably formed by stampingout a blank from sheet metal and then bending the blank to the shapeillustrated. This head is gen-.

erally of rectangular shape and has, at each of its side orlongitudinally extending edges, upstanding flanges or ribs 11 over whichthe marginal portions of the dusting and polishin fabric or material 12are adapted to be f0 ded. This fabric or element 12 may be of anysuitable material but, by preference,

it is a piece of lambs wool or sheeps skin as such material, when rubbedover a waxed surface, will give the desired polish thereto. At each endof the head isan upstandin ear 13 and these cars are suitably apertureto receive the ends of a rodv 14 which extends centrally andlongitudinally of thehead from one to the other end thereof. The head isfurther provided with a air of spaced lugs 15 which are preferably ormedby making slits in the head and then bend mg the metal within the slitsupwardly at right angles to the plane ofthe head. These lugs areadjacent to, and spaced an equal distance from, the center of the headand have two functions; one, to support and reinforce the centralportion of the rod which passes through these lugs, and the second, toprevent movement of a hinge 16 longitudinally of the rod. In the presentinstance, this hinge is very simpl and economically formed of sheetmetal by stamping out a blank of the desired configuration, and thenbending u one end of the blank to form a knuckle 1 which issubstantially continuous throughout its length and which, in length,corresponds to the distance between the lugs 15. The other end of theblank is rolled into a cylindrical socket 18, the axis of which issubstantially at right angles to the axis of the knuckle 17. This socketis provided with a serrated screw thread19 with which cooperates acompanion male thread on the lower end of a handle 20.

For the purpose of clamping the cloth or lambs wool on the head, thereare provided a pair of jaw or gripping members, each of which has agripping portion 23 and an arm 24 at each end pivoted on the rod 14. Thegripping members are each preferably formed from sheet metal, the blanksor strips being bent to the shape illustrated. It will be noted that thegripping portions 23 extend longitudinall of the flanges 11 and arespaced latera ly within these flanges. The upper edge of each of thegripping portions has a laterally extending lip 25, and these lips serveto give a finish to the structure and also to provide a ledge by meansof which the jaws may be raised when it is desired to remove or replacethe cloth upon the head. The gripping members are urged into grippingposition by suitable springs, each of which, in the present instance,takes the form of a central coil 26 encircling the rod 14, oppositelyextending arms 27, and hooked ends 28 adapted to respectively hookoverthe arms or end pieces 24: of the jaws. The gripping members, asstated, are pivoted for swinging movement on the rod 14, and are heldagainst movement longitudinally of that rod by the ears 13.

From the fore oing description, taken in connection with t eaccompanying drawings, it will be seen thata mop, constructed inaccordance with the presentinvention, comprises a relatively few numberof parts each of which is simple in construction, and the parts ma bereadily assembled so that the mop can e produced at a relatlvely lowcost. The lambs wool is held in lace upon the head in a very simple yete ective manner by the gripping members, these members being madefurther effective by the upstanding flanges 11 over which the marginaledges of the lambs wool is bent or folded. The lambs wool may be veryquickly and easily assembled on the head by merely swin ing the grippingmembers upwardly, fol ing the marginal edges of the lambs wool over theside edges of the head, and then releasing the gripping members,permitting the same, under the influence of the springs 26, to be movedinto engagement with, and held tightly against, the lambs wool, Theflanges 11 provide, at the forward and rear edges oi the head,relatively wide surfaces which are covered by ,the lambs wool so thatthe likeli-'- hood of in'ury to furniture or the like, in the event t atthe mop strikes thereagainst, is avoided. a

I claim as my invention: 1. In a mop of the character described, a headwith upwardly extending flanges along its side edges, a pair of clampingmembers pivoted to said head and having gripping portions extendinglongitudinally of, and spaced from, said flanges, each of said grippingportions also having at its upper edge a laterally extending lip, andsprings urging said clamping members into clamping POSitiQIL' 2. In amop of the character described, a

sheet metal head provided with a turned up ear at each end and a pair ofupstanding lugs adjacent the central portion of the head and alignedwith said ears, a rod extending through said lugs, gripping membersivot--,

ed on said rod, and. a handle formed 0 sheet metal and having a knucklesurrounding said rod between said lugs, said knuckle corresponding inlength to the distance between said lugs whereby said lugs hold saidknuckle against longitudinal movement on the rod.

3. In a mop of the character described,'a sheet metal head having aturned up flange along each of its side edges, a turned'up ear at eachend and a pair of spaced lugs adjacent its central portion and alinedwith 'by said ears, springs having coils surroundin said rod and hookedends hooked over said arms, and a sheet metal handle having it knucklesurrounding said rod between said ugs.

4. In a mop of the character described, a head having a body portionprovided with upwardly extending narrow flanges along its side edges, apair of rigid clamping members pivoted to said head and having narrowgripping portions extending longitudinally of and spaced within saidflanges, separate springs urging said clamping members downwardlytowards and against the body portion of said head to clamp the cleaningelement thereagainst and a handle member pivoted to said headindependently of said springs.

5. A mop comprising, a head plate having flanges along its oppositeedges, and ears bent up at its opposite ends, and lugs bent upintermediate the ears, a' rod extending through said ears and lugs, ahandle socket pivoted on said rod between said lugs and spring pressedgripping jaws pivotally supported at opposite ends of the. head andmovable adjacent its flanges.

6; A mop comprising, a head plate having flanges along its edges andcars at its ends, a rod extending through said ears, a handle memberpivoted on said rod, gripping jaws having arms pivotally supportedadjacent said ears and adapted to coact with said flanges to hold apolishing cloth, a single spring member at each end of the head plate,each spring member having a coiled portion mounted on the rod and havingtwo arms engaging the respective gripping jaw arms. g

7. A mop comprising, a head plate having flanges at its sides, andhaving lugs extending upwardly between said flanges, a rod mounted insaid lugs, a handle member pivoted on said rod between said lugs,gripping jaws coacting with said flanges and having arms pivotallysupported near the ends of said head plate and spring members mounted onsaid rod and having arms engaging the arms of said jaws.

8. A mop comprising, a head plate having side flanges, a handle memberpivotally supported at the rear between said flanges, a pair of grippingjaws each having arms at its opposite ends, means for pivotallysupporting said arms so that said jaws can swing with respect to saidflanges and independently of each other and a single spring membersupported at each end of said head plate and formed independently ofsaid 9. A floor mop comprising a sheet metal head plate having end lugsand intermediate lugs, all projecting upwardly from said plate, a rodmounted in the end lugs and connected with the intermediate lugs, ahandle hinged to said rod between said 1 intermediate lugs andcloth-gripping jaws coacting with the head plate.

ARGHIEBALD D. WATERS.

